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No peace at Peace Lutheran Church
From what Tribune-Herald staff writer Erin Quinn reports, Peace Lutheran Church, 9301 Panther Way, was yet another local example of the somewhat chaotic situation involving primary election caucusing going on tonight.
In the Democratic presidential primary, Barack Obama won 13 of the precinct’s 20 delegates with 62 percent of the 134 caucusing voters, she said. It started at 7:53 p.m. and ended at 9 p.m.
Just before the polls closed, a line of more than 150 gathered outside Peace Lutheran Church. Some hadn’t voted yet and were directed to the front of the line.
Moments before 7 p.m, the site’s alternate election judge, George Tibbs, announced he was about to cut off the line to vote, which sparked confusion among voters and caucus-goers. He told caucus-goers it could be an hour before the caucus started.
The church then opened its sanctuary to hold the hungry and cold caucus voters.
Traveling Obama supporters set up their table at the front of the church and opened five bags of cookies that went over big with both Hillary Clinton and Obama supporters.
Among those who waited was Baylor employee Viola Osborn, who said she showed up for caucus four years ago and was the only one.
“I was the caucus,” she said, laughing. “I got to go to the county convention and everything, but I still have no idea how a caucus works.”
Clinton’s traveling supporters set up their table at the front of the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m.
Real estate agent Bobbie Tilton was just one of the anxious voters waiting to caucus at the church.
“They’d better hurry up before I turn Lutheran,” Tilton said . “I’m reading prayer books and songs over here.”
Once the signing started at 7:53 p.m., most voters left.
Fossie Hadley, a 60-year-old housewife, said she didn’t expect to wait at the caucus, but didn’t mind.
“I really didn’t have any idea what it would be like,” she said. “I just knew it was something Hillary needed us to do. As long as she’s in it, I’m in it with her.”
Hillary Blakeley, a 24-year-old Baylor graduate student, was surprised she could leave after signing in.
“Earlier in the day, I looked up a bunch about caucuses online because I didn’t know what to expect,” the Obama supporter said. “I read it could take a while, so I brought work to do and everything.”
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